Asian New Year traditions

The Vietnamese, on New Year, ignite bonfires with the fall of darkness. Some fires are made by families, and the coals are made from rice treats.

In the New Year's Eve, you forget all the insults and bickering. The next day is celebrated at home. The first person who enters the house, will determine whether it will bring good luck - if it is a good friend of the family, everything will be fine.

On New Year's Eve in Vietnam, they put live fish in rivers and lakes. According to the legend, on the back of the fish swims a god that on the New Year goes to heaven to talk about the problems on Earth.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated during the new moon in late January or early February. The festive procession is accompanied by a lighted lantern.

Their aim is to illuminate the way for the new year. Since it is believed that the new year is surrounded by evil spirits and forces, they are frightened by fireworks and clappers.

In Japan the New Year is the biggest holiday. It is celebrated for one week, which is known as the Golden Week. The old year is sent away with a visit to the restaurant.

At midnight the Japanese begin to laugh, as they believe that laughter will bring them luck in the new year. On the first of January, they visit a temple bell which is rung one hundred and eight times.

With each stroke, according to the Japanese, it chases away everything bad that happened last year, so that it is not repeated in the New Year. To chase away evil spirits, the Japanese hang bundles of straw on their doors.

In the homes of prominent people rice cakes are placed, which bear some tangerines, which symbolize happiness, health and longevity.

At the door of the house are placed bamboo and pine branches - these are symbols of loyalty and longevity. On New Year's Eve are forbidden words with negative connotations.

For New Year in every Japanese house are located three branches - bamboo, for children to grow quickly, plum, to have good assistants and pine for family members to live longer.

It is forbidden to pronounce words that are associated with certain animals - fox, dragon, tiger and snake. If a child violates the prohibition, parents wipe its mouth with a ceremonial cloth.

New Year is celebrated after sunrise - then, the Japanese exchange gifts. Like the Chinese, the Japanese are required to visit their parents on the first day of the year.